Federico Curradi and his s/s 2018 collection

He started very early, collaborating with important names such as Ermanno Scervino and Roberto Cavalli. Then for Federico Curradi came the creative direction of Iceberg and after that the important step of a male line under his name, for the launch of which he chose the 89th edition of Pitti in January 2016. An eco-friendly collection, a message also underlined by the presentation at the Dogana space in Florence where the models seemed to breathe from oxygen masks connected with bottles fueled by wonderful flowers, a post-apocalyptic scenario to underline the risks of a polluted society. Curradi, class 1975, Tuscan and very much tied to his land, again choose the Florentine fair to present the new 2018 s/s collection, which continues the values already expressed in previous seasons, such as the desire to propose a male wardrobe presenting a new type of luxury, simple and crafty. The designer talks about all this in our interview.

It is not the first time that you present your line at Pitti. What is it that ties you to this important trade fair and why have you decided to return?

Without doubt, Pitti is an extremely important event for me, both because it is held in my home town and because the people who direct it were the first ones to believe in me and in my design vision.

Lapo and Francesca (Lapo Cianchi, Communication and Special Events Director, ed.) are two special people who I respect enormously, and when they invited me to take part in the show I didn't need to think twice about accepting.

After many partnerships, you now have your own name brand. Tell us about the principle features of this range. What distinguishes it?

The line is, in some respect, my mirror, my point of view of the masculine aesthetic. I try to match the idea of a luxury that consists of simplicity with beautiful natural fabrics, soft lines, iconic garments that can be worn on multiple occasions. In this I try to be as modern as possible, choosing suppliers and fabrics with eco-friendly certification, while completly avoiding the use of furs and skins that are considered ‘prestigious’ (such as crocodile and python).

Where does the inspiration for your work come from?

I am inspired mostly by the many aspects of daily life, by people and their spirit. I am attracted by the things that occur in public places, on buses, the metro or trains, when people relax in a certain way that revels something about themselves. Without doubt, I also plunder ideas from art, both classic and modern.

Tell us about the type of man you have in mind when you design. What is your ideal male type and who wears your clothing?

The man I design for is aware, modern, and conscious of the world that surrounds him, he does not crave appearances but prefers to feel comfortable with himself, he is someone curious and interested.

In your opinion, how much importance does the Made in Italy label still have globally?

In a world that is increasingly globalised and increasingly virtual, where a photo taken on a mobile phone can assume more importance than reality, it is becoming more and more difficult for the “Made in Italy” associated with “well-made” to make the difference. This is the reason why I believe it must be supported by manufacturers, but above all by the shops themselves and associations that need to promote it in also as a sustainable option.

With your return to Pitti as a special event, can you give us a small preview of what we can expect to see?

I try to describe a story of Florence, the life in its districts, I imagine the life of an artisan, someone who divides himself between his work as a restorer and his passion, Calcio in Costume, a typical Florentine football game.

It’s the analysis of the dualism between Super Man and his artistic side.